Washington DC Bed and Breakfast | Visitor Info Blog | American Guest House

Does an evening at the theatre seem like something you would love to do, but find yourself on a tight budget? Fear not! For the Shakespeare Theatre come upon its Free for All season where they open up free showings for the general public. Currently, the revival of the playwright’s classic, Twellfth Night, is performing at the Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street, NW located by the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro). See the link below for details.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Free for All

Once this promotion ends, there are still other discounts available. The Shakespeare Theatre offers tickets at $10 for patrons under 35 that can be purchased every Tuesday morning during the season at 10am. They also offer discounted tickets to groups of 10 or more, students and seniors.

For their full Calendar of performances see below:

Calendar

Playing in the month of July is Mrs. Warren’s Profession and Avenue Q. Both are highly rated comedic performances that cater to the adult audience. Avenue Q is a Tony award winning piece of musical theatre that has traveled across the country. Now, it’s in our neck of the woods! For more information about the plays and Box Office, please see: Plays.

So go to laugh, cry and experience the classics like never before! - Vanessa, Innkeeper

History is a central tenant of life in Washington, D.C.  One cannot walk many steps without encountering a plaque, statue, or monument honoring a great hero of our past. When people come to D.C., they remember to visit the archives, art museums, and theaters, but often forgotten are the tributes to equally great, but sometimes lesser known heroes …

Up on Cedar Hill in Southeast D.C. sits the majestic former home of escaped slave, abolitionist, underground railroad conductor, lecturer, publisher, military recuriter, and U.S. Marshal Frederick Douglass.  Today, what was a home is now a museum, giving visitors an intimate look into the life of one of the men whose opinion helped convince President Lincoln to make emancipation a cause of the Civil War and who helped encourage a community toward greatness.

Don’t forget the lesser known heroes on your next visit to D.C.  Be sure to include the Frederick Douglass house as a stop on your personal tour of town.

Click below for more information on the Frederick Douglass House:  http://www.nps.gov/frdo/index.htm

Sonya, Night Manager

Want something our of the ordinary, interesting and free to do on Saturday? Check out the Free Summer Saturdays program at the Corcoran Gallery of Art. They have demonstrations, workshops, tours and performances open to the public. The event last until September 4th, 2010. Their activities change weekly, so see the link below for what’s currently available.

Free Summer Saturdays at the Corcoran Gallery of Art

Every Saturday they will have highlight tours from the hours of 12pm to 3pm. Outside, a Corcoran school alumni, Randolph Williams, will recreate works of art from the Gallery’s collection in chalk on the corner of 17th Street and New York Avenue for your viewing pleasure.

The Corcoran Gallery has a variety of collections ranging from contemporary to classic. Some of their recent acquisitions include “Raised by Wolves. Photographs and Documents of Runaways by Jim Goldberg” and “Sunrise on the Potomac by William Douglas MacLeod”. See below for a look at what else in new.

Recent Aquisitions

The Gallery’s primary goal is to share their collection with the public. They hold a variety of primarily American art from the 18th, 19th, and 20th century. However, they do have a collection of European art also on display. Regular admission price is $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, and free admission for children under 12. See the links below for more Gallery information.

The Corcoran gallery is one of D.C.’s little known gems. Go to see something new and be inspired!

Directions

Regular Hours & Admission

Corcoran Gallery of Art home page

-Vanessa, Innkeeper

July 4th is one of our nation’s most celebrated events. What better way to celebrate such a momentous holiday than in our nation’s capital? Best of all, it’s FREE! On the 4th, there will be a beautiful parade down Constitution Ave from 7th St. to 17th St beginning at 11:45 am. There you will see invited bands selected by the Parade’s committee, military and specialty units, drill teams, national dignitaries, celebrities, fife and drum corps, floats, and equestrian teams. For more information, please visit: http://www.july4thparade.com/index.html

But the fun and excitement doesn’t stop there! Once the Parade ends, you can wander over to the Mall for the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival, which will be open from 11am to 5pm on the 4th. The themes for this years festival include: Mexico Profundo: A Deeper Mexico, Asian Pacific American Connections and Smithsonian Inside Out. Admission is also free here and it’s located on the Mall between 7th and 14th streets. Come here to enjoy the live entertainment, eat the international cuisine, and learn about various things from martial arts and calligraphy to bee keeping! There’s all types of activities and fun for the whole family. For more information, please see: http://dc.about.com/od/specialevents/a/FolklifeFest.htm

As the evening begins to set in, the show really begins! From 8pm to 9:30 pm there will be a free concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol performed by the National Symphony Orchestra and Reba McEntire, Darius Rucker, Lang Lang and celebrity guest Jimmy Smits will host. Please see the link for Concert information: http://www.pbs.org/capitolfourth/faq.html

And finally, the highlight event: The FIREWORKS! At dark, around 9:15pm and weather permitting, an array of fireworks will be launched from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to appear over the Washington Monument. This event is also free! Come see and enjoy this magical spectacle that can be enjoyed by everyone! For more details, please click the link below: http://www.dcpages.com/Tourism/Fourth_of_July/

So, come celebrate in D.C. for a very special 4th of July that won’t easily be forgotten!

-Vanessa, Innkeeper

A hallmark in contemporary American music history, the Apollo Theater has stood as a gateway and sounding board for vocal, instrumental, and comedic artists for 75 years. This summer, the Smithsonian Institution celebrates Apollo in a special exhibit, “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing: How the Apollo Theater Shaped American Entertainment.”  We hope you’ll visit today! 

http://nmaahc.si.edu/section/programs/view/43

Come enjoy the finger licking good festivities on June 26 (11am to 9pm) and June 27th (11am to 7:30pm) on Pennsylvania Ave near the Capital building (between 9th & 14th St). Watch as teams from around the country compete for cash and prizes all weekend! While you’re enjoying some delicious BBQ, enjoy the rhythm and beats of D.C.’s own Chuck Brown and Cyril Neville along with 30 other rock, R&B, jazz and blues bands. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. The nearest metro stops are Federal Triangle (blue & orange line) and Archives- Navy Memorial (green & yellow line). This is one summer BBQ that you don’t want to miss!

Check out their website for more details at www.bbqdc.com .

Don’t forget to bring your appetite!

-Vanessa, Innkeeper

Don’t miss “LIVE! on Woodrow Wilson Plaza: A Summer Performance Series” at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC. It starts TOMORROW, JUNE 9 from noon to 1:30 pm with the unforgettable O’Jays, and as the summer continues, there will be something for everyone who loves the arts.

For more information, visit
http://www.itcdc.com/PDFs/Live.Schedule.Promo.2010.pdf

And remember, dancing is ALWAYS encouraged … (-:

Your friends at the American Guest House

Following is a list of restaurants which we or our guests have tried.  Some are within walking distance of the Guest House and some are a short ride away but all great places to eat and worth trying:

• Ruth’s ChrisSteak House - Great steak and seafood 2 blocks away from Guest House.

• Marcel’s - This is a very nice, upscale French establishment that offers some top notch dishes and is located near the Foggy Bottom metro. Meals come in courses and they have plenty of wonderful choices to delight any palate.

• Ristorante La Perla - Just a delightful Italian restaurant located in Foggy Bottom. They have a very lovely ambiance and some delicious food. They offer ample portions, but be sure to leave room for dessert!

• 1789 Restaurant - One of Georgetown’s great treats! They serve a variety of seafood and American dishes and their menu changes daily to offer a real variety. They even offer a monthly cooking class. Check out their website for more information.

• Komi - For some upscale Greek/Mediterrenean food, this is the place! Johnny Monis, the owner, has created a place that Todd Kliman from The Washingtonian calls “the most soulful and personal restaurant in DC-maybe the best!”

Affordable Dining in Washington DC

• Universal Gourmet -1825 Connecticut Ave NW -(202) 319-2688 - Nice place to eat with choices of Hot Food Bar and a grill in the back.

• Astor Mediterranean - A great choice for some reasonably priced Mediterranean in the Adams Morgan area.

• Julia’s Empanadas - Baked hot and ready to serve, this is a great treat for a quick bite. They have a variety of empanadas to choose from and it’s right in the heart of Adams Morgan.

• The Diner - A 24 hour diner that’s “serves early birds, night owls and everyone in between.”

• Good Stuff Eatery- A nice burger joint that won’t hurt your wallet. Come for the handmade burgers and fries, stay for the homespun dessert.

Unique Cuisine in Washington DC

• Fogo De Chao-Brazillian Barbecue, the Gaucho way of roasting meats over pits of open fire for delicious barbecues.The all you can eat BrazilianBarbecue is located across from the Old Post Office near the Smithsonian Museums.

• Russian House-An Elegant restaurant and lounge.

• The Melting Pot - A fondue restaurant that generates many happy faces after a meal. You must try their chocolate fondue, it’s fantastic!

• Ben’s Chili Bowl - One of D.C.’s landmark restaurants where only Bill Cosby eats for free. It’s a little joint that offers a lot of spirit and delicious chilli!

• Meskerem- For a great Ethiopian dining experience, this is the place to visit! Don’t be afraid to eat with your hands, it’s encouraged!

Summers in D.C. are more than a lot of fun, activities are often FREE.  Did you know the Kennedy Center (yes, the one you watch on TV and read about in the papers) has a FREE SHOW from 6 pm - 7 pm everyday! They call it the “Millennium Stage,” and just like the far-reaching, lesser known meaning of millennium, your time at this Kennedy Center venue will bring you GREAT JOY! (In case you didn’t get that, millennium can mean more than a thousand years … it’s lesser known meaning is “a period of great happiness or human perfection” … no worries, we were surprised, too … LOL)

In the month of June, visitors to the Millennium Stage can look forward to performances from the Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company of the United Kingdom, the band Forró No Escuro playing Brazilian dance music, the Fairfax Wind Symphony, Deviated Theatre, the U.S. Navy Band, and so much more.  For additional information, visit http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/schedule.html.

(And don’t forget, if you stay at the American Guest House, you’ll be only a hop, skip, and a jump away from the fun.  Our convenient location near Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan makes us one of the best stops in DC!)

Enjoy your trip!

Your friends at the American Guest House

Free and fun for the whole family, come gaze at the stars and planets once per month at Rock Creek Park.